08012017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2017

PAGE E3

SHAUNAE AT THE DOUBLE

CHRIS BROWN SAYS ‘TIME TO REGROUP’ AS HE SITS OUT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sprinter will attempt to make history in the 200 and 400m

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HE’S been the focus of attention for the men’s side of the Bahamas athletic programme for the past two decades. But for the first time in his career, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown will not be on the Bahamas’ IAAF World Championship team.

The country’s most decorated quarter-miler will not be making the trip to London, England this week for the championships that will be staged from August 4-13.

It’s the first time since he started competing at the championships in 1999 in Seville, Spain, when he anchored the quartet of Timothy Munnings, Troy McIntosh and Carl Oliver to a sixth place finish in the men’s 4 x 400m relay final, that Brown will be participating.

“I made the team for the relay, which was the goal, but, mentally and physically, I decided that I was going to sit this one out, regroup and get ready for next year’s Indoor Championships,” he said.

“Next year will be my final year of athletics.

I will make a nice announcement. It ain’t over yet. I still have one more World Indoors left in the tank and then we will see how it goes for the Commonwealth Games.”

Brown, at 38, has never won an individual medal at the World Championships or the Olympic Games, but he’s been the centrepiece of every 4 x 400m relay team that has ascended the medal podium.

When the IAAF World Championships is held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, next year, Brown will be going after his sixth individual medal in the 400m, adding to the gold he won in Doha in 2010, silver in 2014 in Sopot, Poland, and bronze in Moscow, Russia in 2006, Valencia, Spain in 2008 and Istanbul, Turkey in 2012.

“The World Indoors next year will be my final appearance,” Brown said. “I will be saying farewell after that. Next year is definitely going to be it for me.

“I don’t mind. When I go out there to perform, I like to give it 100 or 200 per cent. If I can’t give 200 per cent, I don’t feel like going out there and just giving 75 per cent.

For me, it’s all or nothing.”

Although he ran at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals in June where he placed sixth in 47.01 seconds in Grand Bahama, Brown said he knew at the beginning of the year that this maybe a year of transition for him.

“I was back and forth on the issue of whether or not I would be going to the World Championships,” he said. “It’s not SEE PAGE 4E

BOC SUMMER CAMP

WHEN the 16th International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Championships gets underway this weekend in London, England, Bahamas women’s quartermiler Shaunae Miller-Uibo will have a tall order to fill.

The 2016 Olympic Games’ gold medalist and leader of the Bahamian 25-member team seems to be fit and ready for the duties ahead of her as she attempts to complete the 200 and 400 metre double for women over a five-day span.

No woman has ever won the 200/400m combo at the championships since its inauguration in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland. If MillerUibo does it, she will join American Michael Johnson, who made the achievement on the men’s side in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

She didn’t get a chance at the double last year at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro due to a tight schedule, but Miller-Uibo said her focus has been on that goal all season long with the format adjusted to accommodate her this year.

“I’m prepared for the rounds, but, as I stated earlier this season, my main focus will still be the 400m,” she told The Tribune, while completing her training in Europe prior to heading to London to join up with her Bahamian teammates.

The 400m has always been her specialty.

Last year in Rio, she dove across the finish line to win the 400m title at the Olympics over American Allyson Felix as she avenged a loss in the final at the last World Championships in Beijing, China in 2015.

Miller-Uibo, who celebrated her 23rd birthday on April 15, said she’s been training hard in preparation for her third appearance in the championships when she’s expected to face Felix in another epic showdown.

Going into London, Miller-Uibo has posted the third fastest time this year – 49.77 seconds that she ran in Shanghai, China on May 13. Felix ran a world leading time of 49.65 in the pre-World Championship meet in London on July 9 with fellow American Quanera Hayes taking the USA Championships title SEE PAGE 4E

BAHAMAS TEAM ‘SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS’ AT PONY-13 WORLD SERIES BASEBALL

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas team in the Pony-13 World Series came close to making history as champions before falling short in their semifinal match in Whittier, California over the weekend.

Called “The Almighty 10,” the team will return home today having had their impressive run in the weeklong tournament come to an end when they lost 13-3 to Johnstown, the

“Overall, they surpassed our expectations and we were very happy with their performances. This is history for us as Pony Baseball Baseball in winning these two games and getting to the semifinal of this tournament.”

Terran Rodgers USA East Coast champions.

“I think the team played extremely well in the tournament,” said Terran Rodgers, who headed the delegation. “We came here short handed after leaving three key players home, two who caught the pink

eye and one who couldn’t get his visa in time.

“But we added a couple of players who would not have been on the team and they stepped in and gave a very good account of themselves. I think the make-up of this team was one of the best that we

have seen and that was the key to our success.”

This was the third year that the Bahamas played in the tournament, but after winning one game the first time and none the second time, Rodgers said the third time was a charm with their two victories.

After losing their opening game 15-3 to Lansing, the USA Northern champions, on Friday, the Bahamas pulled of a double header on Saturday. They took their frustration out on the USA host team Whittier 17-6 and avenged their loss to Lansing with

a 9-4 win.

Had the team won against Johnstown on Sunday, they would have played the undefeated team again in the double elimination style tournament. However, by virtue of losing the game, the Bahamas were eliminated.

“The players surpassed our expectations,” Rodgers stated. “There were moments where we had some errors in the game, but that’s to be expected at this age level and their inexperience.

“But overall, they surSEE PAGE 3E

PAGE 2, Tuesday, August 1, 2017

BOC SUMMER CAMP ‘A HUGE SUCCESS’ OVER 80 youngsters participated in the annual Bahamas Olympic Committee’s summer camp, learning skills in boxing, judo and archery.

The camp was held on the grounds of Holy Family Catholic Church on Robinson Road, headquarters for Bahamas Archery Federation and the judo national training centre A special feature this year was a visit from the countries that participated in the Commonwealth Youth Games. Summer students were able to train with some of the international teams and a lot of new friendships were made.

Students were also able to attend the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Raven Pennerman, a University of the Bahamas

student who assisted as a judo instructor, said “The camp was a huge success.

The children had a lot of fun while learning from the different federation instructors. They especially enjoyed the free breakfast.”

This is the second year of the camp and Wellington Miller BOC President expressed his pleasure at the event.

“The multisport aspect of this camp was exactly what we wanted,” he said.

“The values of the Olympics are respect, excellence and friendship and we are pleased that they were all in effect at this camp.”

The camp ran for the month of July and was sponsored by the Bahamas Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture.

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 1, 2017, PAGE 3

BLTA CONGRATULATES KERRIE CARTWRIGHT ON REACHING DOUBLES FINAL THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has congratulated Kerrie Cartwright after she reached a doubles final on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s Circuit.

She teamed up with American Karianna Pierre-Louis in the doubles of the $15,000 Les Contamines-Montjoie Tournament in Les Contamines-Montjoie, France where they lost to the top ranked German team of Tavisiya Morderger and Yana Morderger 2-6, 6-4 (10-7) in the final.

Cartwright also advanced to the quarterfinal round in the singles event where she lost to

Yana Morderger, the No.5 ranked player, 6-4, 6-0 in the quarter-final.

Cartwright has represented the Bahamas at the Fed Cup event in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013 and also served on Jr. Fed Cup national teams from 2005-2007.

She also had the distinction of serving on Team Bahamas that won the Fed Cup Group II tie in 2008, 2011 and 2013.

Cartwright held the number one spot in Bahamas Women’s tennis for a few years and most recently in 2014.

“We wish Kerrie continued success on the ITF Women’s Circuit,” the BLTA wrote in a press release.

KERRIE Cartwright (right) poses with her doubles partner, American Karianna Pierre-Louis, with their awards next to champions Tavaisiya and Yana Morderger from Germany.

MIDDLE AND LONG DISTANCE ADDED TO BLUE CHIPS ATHLETICS CAMP

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER running a successful throwers camp last year, coach Corrington Maycock has decided to add a middle and long distance component to the second annual Blue Chips Athletics Camp.

It’s scheduled for August 7-12 at Queen’s College between the hours of 9am and 3pm for boys and girls ages 12-16 years and will be conducted by April and Bob Smith, an assistant coach (throws) from Fresno State University.

Coach Christine Engel, also an assistant coach (distance) at Fresno State University, will be in town to conduct the inaugural middle and long distance segment of the camp with the view of providing an athletic scholarship to a potential Bahamian athlete.

Cory Young, the Association head coach at the University of Miami and Shannon Popp, an assistant coach (throws) from Louisiana LaFayette University may also make an appearance at the camp.

“All of the coaching coming in has scholarships for athletes going forward,” Maycock revealed.

Move comes after successful throwers event last year “Both camps are for developing purposes as we try to find some new talent in the Bahamas.”

The camp starts on the August Monday holiday, but Maycock said they decided not to take the time off because there is a lot of ground for the instructors to cover in the week.

“Once your kid has the potential, we want you to send them out,” Maycock said. “We’re looking for the couch potatoes too.

Hopefully we can turn them into athletes.

“We are just looking at talent across the board for boys and girls in our track and field system in both the government and private schools.”

Last year, Maycock said the camp was very successful and, if they can attract at least 60 campers this year, he said they would surpass the first year’s total.

“We learn techniques, we learn basics from beginners to advance throwers,” Maycock said. “We

have some experienced throwers who have gone on to represent the Bahamas very well at Carifta.

“We’re looking for any and all throwers to come out because the camp has been beneficial to a lot of the throwers. Once I see these kids obtain scholarships, we feel we have accomplished our goals.”

Maycock said with five competitors on this year’s Carifta team that competed in Curacao, the Bahamas got four medals, which was a remarkable accomplishment.

“We’re looking for a bigger improvement with the Bahamas hosting Carifta next year,” he said. “I’m looking for a number of the throwers who participate in the camp to be able to win medals at Carifta.”

The advanced throwers, according to Maycock, will also be preparing for the IAF World Junior Championships in Finland and the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

“All those games, we want to have some representation from the throwers in those meets,” he stressed. “We want to be able to get our throwers to participate in all of the major international meets next year.”

As for the middle and long distance component to the camp, Maycock said he had some coaches interested in coming for the thrower’s camp, so he decided to include them to help increase the participation of the campers.

“We just hope that the camp is successful and it trickles into the season and hopefully next year will be even better, not just from the throwers, but the middle and long distance runners.

“Just like throwing, you have a lot of kids out there who can run long distances, but they may not have the avenue or the means to showcase their talent,” he said.

“So this is the opportunity and we just want it to grow from here.

“If you have your kids at home and you feel that they can run distance races, have them come to the camp,” Maycock stressed.

“We want to hone their talent as we look at the development moving forward.

Interested persons can register at Queen’s College between 8-9 am on Monday, August 7. Registration for the middle and long distance segment is $50 and $250 for the throwers for the weeklong camp.

“Not everybody will get a scholarship from the camp, but there are other schools who are interested in giving out scholarships who are not going to be here,” Maycock said.

“But we do have the means outside of the camp to help your kids. You have to be developed first before we can talk about talent.

“We are still looking for the development of the throwers or runners first.”

The focus of the camp is to get the campers from basic development to peaking to compete.

The challenge for the coaches, according to Maycock, is to try and cramp it all in one week.

“It’s going to be tedious in a way, but beneficial in the long run,” he said.

“So we’re hoping this one opens the door for us to put on a stronger camp next year and to help the programme in the future.”

BAHAMAS BASEBALL TEAM ‘SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS’ AT PONY-13 WORLD SERIES FROM PAGE 1E passed our expectations and we were very happy with their performances.

This is history for us as Pony Baseball Baseball in winning these two games and getting to the semifinal of this tournament.”

The Bahamas team was comprised seven players from the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN) – Nathaniel Zervos, Norman Bastian, Adrian Edgecombe, James Francis, Seth & Sean Swaby and Kayden Dean; two

from Grand Bahama – Brandon Hutchinson and Malique Charlton and one from Freedom Farm – Skye Hanna.

Bastian turned out to be the top performer as he went 7-for-13 for a 0.538 batting average.

He also had a team leading nine runs batted in (RBI).

Edgecombe led the way with the most stolen bases with a total of nine.

Dominic Elliott was the team manager and Adrian Carter and Kareem Hanna served as the coaches.

THE Bahamas Pony League baseball team pose with the host team, Whittier.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, August 1, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

CHRIS BROWN FROM PAGE 1E something that just spring up. At the beginning of the season, I was contemplating whether I would go or just rest my body.

“I’ve been going for the last 20 years straight and my body hasn’t had a chance to recover fully and every year it’s one major event or the other. If I can’t give 100 or 200 per cent, I don’t want to go at all.”

The former national record holder spent the beginning of the year assisting the Local Organising Committee for the inaugural Grenada Invitational and subsequently, he missed the IAAF World Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in April because he felt he wasn’t in “tip top” shape.

While he will not be suiting up in London, Brown said the Bahamas still has a capable team, led by Steven Gardiner, and including Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller with Alonzo Russell, Kendrick Thompson and Ojay Ferguson in the pool.

“I think it’s a good young strong team,” he said. “If the guys can put their heads together and move as a unit, I think they should be alright. But if they don’t, divided we fall.

“Hopefully, with the multiple medalists on the team, they should be able to handle it. I think they have a good chance of making the final. Once they do, anything could happen. They could go for a medal.”

If they do, it will be the first time Brown won’t be a part of any celebrations.

THE BAHAMAS TEAM FOR THE IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S TEAM KEIANNA ALBURY 4 X 100M RELAY. JENAE AMBROSE 4 X 100M RELAY. CHRISTINE AMERTIL 4 X 400M RELAY. DONEISHA ANDERSON 4 X 400M RELAY. DEVYNNE CHARLTON 100M HURDLES/4 X 100M RELAY. LANECE CLARKE 4 X 400M RELAY. CARMEISHA COX 4 X 100M RELAY. SHAQUANIA DORSETT 4 X 400M RELAY. TYNIA GATHIER 200M/4 X 100M RELAY. SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO 200M/400M/4 X 400M RELAY. TAMARA MYERS - TRIPLE JUMP. ANTHONIQUE STRACHAN 200M/4 X 100M RELAY/4 X 400M RELAY. BIANCA STUART - LONG JUMP. MEN’S TEAM ADRIAN CURRY MEN’S 4 X 100M RELAY. OJAY FERGUSON 4 X 100M RELAY. WARREN FRASER 100M/4 X 100M RELAY. STEVEN GARDINER 400M/4 X 400M RELAY. SHAVAZ HART - 4 X 100M RELAY. JOEL JOHNSON 4 X 100M RELAY. MICHAEL MATHIEU 4 X 400M RELAY. RAMON MILLER 4 X 400M RELAY. ALONZO RUSSELL 4 X 400M RELAY. SEAN STUART - 4 X 100M RELAY. DONALD THOMAS - HIGH JUMP. KENDRICK THOMPSON 4 X 400M RELAY. OFFICIALS CONGRESS DELEGATES - ROSAMUNDE CAREY (PRESIDENT) AND TONIQUE WILLIAMS (FIRST VICE PRESIDENT).

TEAM MANAGERS - MAYBELINE MILLER AND CARL OLIVER. ASSISTANT TEAM MANAGER SHARON GARDINER. HEAD COACH DIANNE WOODSIDE-JOHNSON. RELAY COORDINATOR RUPERT GARDINER. ASSISTANT COACHES - RONALD CARTWRIGHT, EVERETTE FRASER AND JASON EDWARDS. TEAM DOCTOR - KEIR MILLER. TEAM PHYSICIANS - EUGENIA PATTON AND BERNIQUE PATTON.

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO celebrates winning her gold medal in the 400m at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro last year. At the IAAF World Championships in London, she will compete in both the 200 and 400m.

SHAUNAE AT THE DOUBLE: SPRINTER’S BID TO MAKE HISTORY IN THE 200 AND 400M FROM PAGE 1E

in 49.72 in Sacramento, California on June 26.

As for the 200m, Miller-Uibo’s time of 21.91 in Eugene, Oregon on May 27 puts her in second place behind her American training partner Tori Bowie, who won the race in Eugene in 21.77.

Although there are a number of top-notch competitors to face in London, including Jamaica’s double Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson and 2015 world champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands in the half-lap race, Miller-Uibo said she’s up to the task.

“I know the competition will be stiff, but once again I’m going out there to have fun and enjoy the moments and put on a great show for the crowd and of course the Bahamian people who I know would be watching,” she insisted.

Miller-Uibo is looking to become just the second Bahamian to win a World Championship one-lap gold medal, joining Tonique Williams, who set the pace in her historic feat in 2005 in Helsinki, Finland.

Miller-Uibo is also the second Bahamian to win a silver medal at the championships, following

“I know the competition will be stiff, but once again I’m going out there to have fun and enjoy the moments and put on a great show for the crowd and of course the Bahamian people who I know would be watching.”

Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the footsteps of Pauline Davis, whose accomplishment came in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

As for the half-lap race, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie holds the distinction of being the only medalist at the championships, earning a gold medal in 2001 in Edmonton, Canada.

For those who will be tracking her progress, the preliminaries of the women’s 400m will take place on Sunday, August 6. The semifinal will run on Monday, August 7 and the final will be contested on Wednesday, August 9.

The preliminaries of the 200m will start on Tuesday, August 8 as well with the semifinal on Thurs-

day and the final on Friday, August 11.

In addition to Miller-Uibo, the Bahamas will send two more competitors to the starting lineup with TyNia Gaither and Anthonique Strachan in the mix.

Gaither, now in her first round of competition as a professional athlete, is tied with Jamaican Shashalee Forbes with the 13th best time of 22.71, while Strachan, who is slowly returning to form after a series of injuries, is tied with Justine Palframan of the Republic of South Africa with the 22nd best time of 22.84.

With her heavy load at the nineday championships, Miller-Uibo said she would only be available to run on the women’s 4 x 400m relay team if the team advances to the final.

The preliminary round of the 1600m relay will take place on Saturday, August 12 and the final will be staged on Sunday, August 13 when the championships come to a close.

“Due to the numerous rounds from the double, when the ladies make it to the final, I can help out,” she said.

Named to the women’s relay pool are Strachan, Christine Amertil, Doneisha Anderson,

Lanece Clarke and Shaquania Dorsett.

The Bahamas has the 13th best time going into the championships with the national record performance of 3:26.36 by Clarke, Strachan, Carmiesha Cox and Amertil at the Rio Olympics.

Cox is on the Bahamas team in London in the 4 x 100m pool with Keianna Albury, Jenae Ambrose, Devynne Charlton, Gaither and Strachan. It’s not known if Cox will also be made available for the 4 x 400m relay.

The Bahamas qualified for London in the women’s 4 x 100m relay by placing sixth in 44.01 in the final of the third IAAF World Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on April 23 with the quartet of Devine Parker, Brianne Bethel, Tayla Carter and Gaither.

The Bahamas is still searching for its first medal in the four-lap (4 x 400m) relay to go with the one lap (4 x 100m) gold that the team of Savatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Davis, FergusonMcKenzie and Eldece Clarke won in 1999 in Seville, Spain and the silver the team of Sheniqua Ferguson, Sturrup, Amertil and Ferguson-McKenzie achieved in 2009 in Berlin, Germany.

PHILLIES BEAT BRAVES 7-6 WIN, COMPLETE 4-GAME SWEEP BASEBALL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Another veteran traded and another win for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco hit homers, Nick Pivetta threw six sharp innings and the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6 on Monday afternoon to complete a four-game sweep.

After the game, the Phillies sent right-hander Joaquin Benoit and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league right-hander Seth McGarry. Philadelphia also traded All-Star reliever Pat Neshek, starter Jeremy Hellickson and infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick in the past week and are 5-0 since the dealing started.

“We brought them in to play a role and they delivered,” general manager Matt Klentak said of the veterans.

The rebuilding Phillies are 10-6 since the All-Star break, but still own the worst record (39-64) in the majors. They’ll take a look at their young players over the final two months.

“I like the energy of the youth,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “You want to watch these guys, and I think there’s some competition there. The competition comes from results that certain players get and that’s what we’re seeing right now. Hopefully it’ll continue until the end of the season.”

Pivetta (4-6) gave up one run and three hits, striking out five.

Kurt Suzuki and Freddie Freeman went deep

PHILADELPHIA Phillies’ Odubel Herrera follows through on a three-run home run off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz during the third inning in Philadelphia. At right is Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) for Atlanta. Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz (9-6) allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings.

“He had a tough time locating,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Foltynewicz.

“You’ll run into games like this. He’s been great for us.”

The Phillies are 7-0 against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park this season. They posted their first four-game sweep of the Braves at home since September 1949, over the Boston Braves.

This was the Phillies’ first four-game sweep against anyone since July 2014 at Milwaukee and first at home since June 2011 vs. the Marlins.

Atlanta, which trailed 5-0 through four innings, was down 7-5 and had the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth when Luis Garcia struck out pinchhitter Tyler Flowers swinging at a 99 mph fastball.

Hector Neris allowed an RBI single to Nick Markakis in the ninth, but retired Suzuki on a fly ball with runners at first and third

to end it, earning his 10th save in 13 tries.

“A tough stand here, obviously,” Snitker said.

“We came back and had a chance. These kinds of (streaks) happen.”

Herrera drove a 3-2 pitch into the second deck in right field for his 11th homer, giving the Phillies a 4-0 lead in the third inning.

Cesar Hernandez led off the inning with a triple to right-centre. After Tommy Joseph lined an RBI single to right-centre and Franco singled, Herrera hit a

three-run shot.

Joseph had another RBI single in the fourth to make it 5-0. Hernandez scored on a groundout in the sixth for a 6-1 lead.

Suzuki hit a two-run shot off reliever Jesen Therrien in the seventh.

Pinch-hitter Lane Adams had an RBI single to cut it to 6-4.

Franco launched his 16th homer into the second deck in left field in the seventh off Sam Freeman.

Freeman connected off Adam Morgan in the eighth.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 1, 2017, PAGE 5

THE VIKINGS’ OFFENSIVE LINE HAS EARLY SETBACK WITH REIFF INJURY

By DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Pro Football Writer MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Offensive line repair was the top offseason priority for the Minnesota Vikings.

That was a given, after a grueling experience with injuries and ineffectiveness in 2016. The Vikings used 12 players among the five spots and eight unique starting combinations in 16 games, a major reason why their 5-0 start skidded into an 8-8 finish.

The sight, then, of new left tackle Riley Reiff leaving the first full-team practice of training camp on a cart prompted plenty of cringes around the field.

“We don’t want to start the same thing that happened last year. We want to try to get through 16 games with these guys, but it’s concerning,” Zimmer said. “You don’t want to get anybody hurt the first day.”

Without any official injury reports required during the preseason, the Vikings have not explained how or what Reiff hurt. But he was a spectator, not a participant, for a fourth consecutive day on Monday.

Rashod Hill, who was signed off Jacksonville’s practice squad late last season, has been taking Reiff’s place with the first-team offence.

“I know he’s bummed, but he’ll be out there soon I’m sure,” right tackle Mike Remmers said.

Left guard Alex Boone sounded a little more on edge, even in playful sarcasm during an exchange the other day with a reporter who asked if Reiff’s absence triggered any “oh, no, not again” feelings from the team.

“We’re not doing it again.

You know what? No more.

We’re all healthy. We’re good,” Boone said. “We’re good, right? We’re good dude. Just say we’re good. I can’t do this again.”

Turning serious, Boone went on to tout the sturdiness of his new partner on the left side of the line.

“He’s a grinder,” Boone said. “I mean, he’s the epitome of a tough guy, so I have no worries about him. His situation is his situation, but at the end of the day we’re going to keep going.”

Reiff has been a durable player, taking part in 78 of a possible 82 games with Detroit. Three of those absences came last season, two to a hip injury and one to an illness. He hurt his knee in 2014 and was held out of one game.

In signing Reiff and Remmers, who came from Carolina, the Vikings gave out more than $36 million in guaranteed money to solidify the tackle spots.

With T.J. Clemmings moved inside to guard after his well-documented struggles with the pass rush the past two years, there’s little experience behind Reiff and Remmers if injuries are an issue as they were last season when Matt Kalil, Andre Smith and Jake Long all ended up on injured reserve.

Jeremiah Sirles has returned as a utility man capable of playing four spots, after starting nine games at right tackle and one at left guard last season.

When asked about the depth at tackle on Monday, Zimmer didn’t exactly offer a ringing endorsement.

“Well, we need to stay healthy, I think,” he said.

Hill, who went undrafted last year out of Southern Mississippi, satisfied the Vikings enough with his performance in the meaningless finale against Chicago after filling in for an injured Clemmings that they didn’t sign any other seasoned backups.

With long arms and strong hands on his 6-foot-6, 309-pound frame, Hill has kept up the positive impression in practice with Reiff out.

With Joe Berger settling back in at right guard and rookie Pat Elflein in competition with Nick Easton to be the starting centre, there’s plenty of important work going on in the middle of the line, too.

There will be no avoiding the spotlight for this group this season, not after the trouble of a year ago.

“We just try to block out all the naysayers about being wherever we’re supposed to be in the league,” Hill said.

“We’re just trying to build each other.”

DALLAS Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) is covered by cornerback Anthony Brown (30) and safety Xavier Woods (25) as they take part in a special teams kickoff return drill during NFL football training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Jones made acrobatic interceptions two straight days in training camp, one that counted and one that did not. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, File)

COWBOYS’ BYRON JONES EYEING INTERCEPTIONS IN THIRD SEASON

By SCHUYLER DIXON, AP Pro Football Writer

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Dallas safety Byron Jones caught bouncing tennis balls and tracked baseballs from the outfield of minor league batting practice during the offseason.

The goal: Improve on the one interception he has produced in two seasons since the Cowboys drafted him late in the first round in 2015 from UConn.

The immediate result: Flashy grabs on consecutive days at training camp, one that counted as an interception and one that didn’t, although it essentially left the same impression despite Jones only getting one foot inbounds.

The former cornerback is intent on catching balls in the secondary, not merely batting them down after Jones tied for

“He’s really been working on his catching ability. Every day when I came in in the offseason, I’ve seen Byron working, working, working. Just with the tennis balls, throwing them off the wall, turning around and catching them, just little stuff like that.”

Dez Bryant the team lead with 10 pass breakups last season.

“I think a lot of those times that he’s broken up the pass, if he just had a more aggressive mentality, just put two hands out there and try to catch it, I think he would have had more plays,” said Jeff Heath, Dallas’ other starting safety with the departure of free agents Barry Church (Jacksonville) and J.J. Wilcox (Tampa Bay).

“That’s something we’ve talked about and he knows that. Through the first few practices this training camp, you’ve seen that

come alive.”

Two of the biggest attention-getters of the Cowboys’ California camp so far involved Jones — both leaping grabs on the run in the end zone. The second was the one where he got both feet in, and even better for Jones, 2014 AllPro Dez Bryant was Dak Prescott’s intended target.

“He’s really been working on his catching ability,” Bryant said. “Every day when I came in in the offseason, I’ve seen Byron working, working, working. Just with the tennis balls, throwing them off

the wall, turning around and catching them, just little stuff like that.”

Jones wasn’t interested in discussing the details of his offseason work. About the best he could offer was an explanation of why he spent time with the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers in Frisco, where the baseball stadium is less than a mile from the Cowboys’ training facility.

“If you can track a baseball down, should be easy to track a football down,” the reticent Jones said.

The Cowboys were one of six teams with fewer than 10 interceptions last season, finishing with nine.

Five of those came from players no longer on the roster after Dallas also let cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne leave as free agents.

Church was the only Dallas player with more than one (he had two).

“That’s our No. 1 objective on defence,” secondary coach Joe Baker said.

“We graded ourselves as sort of middle of the pack in terms of our turnover production. We expect to be A-plus in that area. We want to crank those numbers up.”

Dallas expects Jones to be in the area for most throws down the field because he’s likely to be the roaming deep safety. And they’re expecting him to put two hands on more of those throws.

“He’s got tremendous athletic ability and what we’d like to see is have that athletic ability turn into more ball production,” Baker said.

“His interception (in camp) was just such a great moment when you see sort of your vision come to life on the grass.”

Now the Cowboys hope to see it in the regular season.

THE JAGUARS’ BRANDEN ALBERT RETIRES AFTER THREE PRACTICES, NINE SEASONS JACKSONVILLE Jaguars offensive lineman Branden Albert has abruptly retired. (AP)

By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert abruptly retired Monday, ending his NFL career after nine seasons and two Pro Bowls.

Albert called it quits following three training camp practices and a brief discussion with coach Doug Marrone.

“He came in and told me that he was talking about retirement,” Marrone said. “And then my mind goes on to the next thing, like, ‘OK, we’ve got to get ready for practice.’”

Albert is the fifth NFL player to retire in the past week, following New England defensive end Rob Ninkovich, Baltimore offensive lineman John Urschel, New England re-

ceiver Andrew Hawkins and Denver safety David Bruton Jr. The Jaguars acquired the 32-yearold Albert in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in March, giving up a seventh-round draft pick in 2018 that Jacksonville now gets back because Albert failed to be on the 53-man roster for at least three regular-season games.

Albert skipped most of Jacksonville’s offseason programme because he wanted a new contract. He was scheduled to make $8.8 million in 2017 and $9.5 million in 2018.

He reported for training camp last week and spent the first three days of practice splitting first-team repetitions with rookie Cam Robinson, a second-round draft pick from Alabama who now likely will get the job by default.

“I was just as surprised as everyone else,” Robinson said. “I had no idea, so I wish him the best and whatever.

Great guy. Learned a lot from him in just the little time he was here.”

Albert played in college at Virginia and was the 15th overall pick

by Kansas City in 2008. He spent his first six seasons with the Chiefs and then signed a five-year, $47 million deal with the Dolphins in 2014. He made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2015.

Albert started 118 of 120 career games.

“I look forward to returning to Miami, the place that I now call home and running my businesses while giving back to the community,” Albert said.

“While this chapter of my life is coming to an end, my story is still going and I hope you’ll follow along.”

Albert missed 20 games over the last five seasons, including seven in 2014 because of a knee injury. Albert bounced back the following year and was honoured with Miami’s Ed Block Courage Award.

“Tremendous football player, even better man,” Dolphins defensive end and former teammate Cameron Wake said.

“One of the guys who we always go back and forth (with on the field). I think we looked up to one another as far as being in the game for as long as we have and going through the things we had to to stay at the top for as long as we could.

“For him to be able to be able to have the career that he had and also be able to bow out on his own terms, my hat is off to him and I wish him the best.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 1, 2017, PAGE 7

FORMULA ONE

terms of our values.”

Ferrari certainly liked it.

After the problems of last year, when Ferrari failed to win a race and finished third behind Red Bull and Mercedes in the constructors’ championships, things are looking up.

Ferrari has not won the drivers’ title since Raikkonen’s win in 2007, and its last constructors’ title came the following year.

Last year, Mercedes finished 367 points ahead of Ferrari, with the Silver Arrows winning 19 of 21 races.

The gap this season is only 39, in favour of Mercedes because Bottas has also won two races while Raikkonen has yet to win.

“You mustn’t forget where we were last year, and the step that Ferrari has made is bigger than anyone else,” Vettel said. “Over the winter, I think we were the team that made the least noise.

There was a lot of talk about the new cars ... We just kept to ourselves and did the job.”

Ferrari has closed the gap on Mercedes in terms of speed and the car seems more reliable and more flexible than Mercedes, which has struggled on twisting tracks like Hungary and Monaco where overtaking is difficult.

There is another one of those coming at the Singapore GP in mid-September.

Before that, there is Belgium and then the Italian GP in Monza — Vettel’s home race.

“The mission has been to get back to the top,” the German driver said.

“We got a 1-2 (finish in Budapest) but that’s what we want every weekend.”

HAMILTON NEEDS A BREAK IN TENSE F1 TITLE FIGHT WITH VETTEL BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Heading into Formula One’s midseason break, Lewis Hamilton is completely drained.

It has been a topsy-turvy 11 races so far, with nine to come after a month off. Hamilton trails F1 leader Sebastian Vettel by 14 points, with both drivers winning four races. But Mercedes has struggled with reliability issues on its tires and problems with car balance, all of which has taken its toll on Hamilton.

He clearly needs a rest before the tussle with Vettel starts again at the Belgian Grand Prix on Aug. 27.

Recharge “I definitely think it’s come at a good time. It’s been tough, physically, mentally and emotionally,” Hamilton said. “I think this break will be good. Recharge and come back hopefully fresh. I truly believe we have the capability of winning this championship.”

Hamilton finished fourth at the Hungarian GP, with Vettel winning from pole position ahead of Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Third place was possible for Hamilton, but he stuck to a gentleman’s agreement with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and let him past at the end. That was because Bottas had allowed Hamilton to overtake him earlier in the race to attack the Ferraris.

The decision raised eyebrows, considering how valuable the points were that Hamilton was

BRITISH Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes (R) gets a pit service prior to during Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix on the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod, 23 kms north-east of Budapest, Hungary, Sunday. (AP) essentially giving away to a main rival.

“It cost us three points and potentially the drivers’ championship, we are perfectly conscious about that,” Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff said.

“Nevertheless, it is how the drivers and the team operate. We stick to what we say. If the conse-

quences are as much as losing the championship, we take it.”

That is quite some admission, but it shows — at least — that Hamilton and Bottas are there for each other.

In the three previous years, Hamilton was constantly bickering and feuding with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg,

who retired just days after beating Hamilton to win last year’s title.

“The truth is that if you miss out the championship by those three points everybody would point the finger to Budapest,” Wolff added.

“It was a tough call to make, and probably the most difficult that we had to make in the last five years, but it was the right one in

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 73° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Times of clouds and sun

Sunshine with a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny and warm

Intervals of clouds and sunshine

High: 94°

Low: 80°

High: 95° Low: 81°

High: 95° Low: 81°

High: 94° Low: 81°

High: 94° Low: 80°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

103° F

90° F

104°-90° F

104°-90° F

103°-90° F

104°-89° F

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

ABACO

S

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 83° F/28° C

8‑16 knots

S

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

7‑14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

E

tiDes

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

MIAMI

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 84° F/29° C

High: 94° F/34° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 83° F/28° C

N

nassau Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

3:31 a.m.

4:15 p.m.

2.4 2.8

9:47 a.m. 0.7 10:40 p.m. 1.0

Wednesday 4:26 a.m.

5:06 p.m.

2.3 2.8

10:38 a.m. 0.7 11:33 p.m. 1.0

Thursday

5:19 a.m.

5:54 p.m.

2.3 2.9

11:27 a.m. 0.6 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Friday

6:07 a.m.

6:39 p.m.

2.4 3.0

12:22 a.m. 0.9 12:14 p.m. 0.6

Saturday

6:53 a.m.

7:21 p.m.

2.5 3.1

1:06 a.m. 0.8 12:58 p.m. 0.5

Sunday

7:35 a.m.

8:00 p.m.

2.6 3.2

1:47 a.m.

1:40 p.m.

0.6 0.4

Monday

8:16 a.m.

8:39 p.m.

2.7 3.3

2:26 a.m.

2:21 p.m.

0.5 0.4

sun

anD

Sunrise Sunset

moon

6:38 a.m.

7:55 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:08 p.m.

1:45 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Aug. 7

Aug. 14

Aug. 21

Aug. 29

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 83° F/28° C

N

S

E

W

6‑12 knots

S

7‑14 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Today

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 91° F/33° C Low .................................................... 80° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 89° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 76° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.10” Year to date ............................................... 15.79” Normal year to date ................................... 19.67”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

For

High

almanac

E

W

N

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

W

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 83° F/28° C

N

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 82° F/28° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 83° F/28° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 89° F/32° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N E

W

N E

W

S

S

6‑12 knots

7‑14 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS S at 7‑14 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SSW at 8‑16 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 85° F 87° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, August 1, 2017

UEFA BANS UTD DEFENDER JONES FOR ABUSING DOPING OFFICIAL NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA banned Manchester United defender Phil Jones yesterday for two European games for abusing a doping control officer following the Europa League final in May. Jones was also fined 5,000 euros ($5,900), while the club was fined 10,000 euros ($11,800) for incidents which took place after United beat Ajax to win the Europa League title in Stockholm.

Daley Blind was fined 5,000 euros ($5,900) for failing to comply with regulations.

“The club has been charged for infringements of the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations concerning the doping control procedure,” UEFA said.

“The player Philip Jones has been charged for insulting and directing abusive language towards the Doping Control, as well as for a lack of cooperation and respect towards the doping control procedure.”

Jones will miss United’s UEFA Super Cup match against Real Madrid on Aug. 8 and its opening Champions League game.

United can appeal the decision.

THE TRIBUNE

MANCHESTER UNITED SIGN MATIC FROM CHELSEA MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United signed midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea yesterday on a three-year contract.

The 28-year-old Serb rejoins former manager Jose Mourinho after playing a key role when the Portuguese coach guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in the 2014-15 season.

“I am delighted to have joined Manchester United,” Matic said.

“To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

Neither English Premier League club gave financial details of the deal, which was reportedly for 40 million pounds ($52.8 million).

CHELSEA’S Nemanja Matic in action for Chelsea last season. Manchester United have signed the midfielder on a three-year contract.

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Matic established himself as a crucial player for Chelsea after rejoining the club in 2014 from Benfica.

However, Chelsea’s signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco meant the Blues were willing to let Matic move on.

Matic is Mourinho’s third major acquisition of the offseason, joining Romelu Lukaku and Victor

Lindelof as United seek to win a first league title since the 2012-13 season.

“Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player,” Mourinho said.

“He represents everything we want in a footballer; loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player.”

Matic will wear the No. 31 shirt.

REPORTS: MCILROY FIRES CADDIE AFTER NINE YEARS

GOLF The Associated Press

News comes ahead of Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy has fired his caddie and will use his best friend at the Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship,

according to published reports.

Reuters cited a source it did not identify as saying McIlroy has parted ways with J.P.

Fitzgerald. They have worked together for the past nine years, during which McIlroy has won four major championships and

reached No. 1 in the world.

McIlroy is due to speak about the change Wednesday at the Bridgestone Invitational.

The Telegraph reported that McIlroy’s caddie at the next two tournaments will be Harry Diamond.